Alfalfa trials! South Cotabato Town Leads Alfalfa Growing In Mindanao

Polomolok, South Cotabato now officially leads all other local government units in the Philippines in the advocacy to grow Alfalfa, a highly leguminous herb which is the main forage and silage material for Cattle and small ruminants in America.
Yesterday, I was joined by Polomolok Mayor Bernie Palencia, officials of Dole Philippines and the DoleFil Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative in sowing Alfalfa seeds in a Pilot Area in Polomolok, South Cotabato.
The growing of Alfalfa, along with Sorghum for feed grains production, is part of my advocacies to boost the Livestock, Poultry and Aqua Farming in the country.
Alfalfa and Sorghum are being introduced in the vast Pineapple plantations of South Cotabato as rotational crops during the fallow period when the fields are not planted to pineapple for up to four to six months every year.
Dolefil South Cotabato General Manager Rey Doria welcomed the introduction of Sorghum and Alfalfa as rotational crops in the Pineapple plantations as it would mean additional income for the landowners.
Alfalfa is also expected to enrich the soil because of its nitrogen fixing attributes as a leguminous plant.
DARBC has agreed to enter into a Sorghum production engagement with the Southseas Agri-Aqua Ventures Corp., a new agricultural company which former Senator Panfilo Lacson, Rocky French, four other friends and I formed to support Philippine Agriculture.
The cooperative, headed by Vincent Palma, has pledged an initial 3,000-hectares to be planted to Sorghum and, depending on the results of the trials, additional areas for growing Alfalfa.
Sorghum and Alfalfa are ideal for the Cattle Industry of Polomolok and South Cotabato.
Mayor Palencia said that he envisions his town to be a major cattle production area of the country with a complete value chain.
“We do not intend to sell live cattle. Instead we would like to introduce quality beef in the market to be known as Polomolok Beef and we could do that if we have enough Sorghum silage and Alfalfa,” Mayor Palencia said.
#KungGustoMaramingParaan!
#FarmIsTheBestClassroom!
(Videos and photos by Kimberly Joy Sarino, SAAV Corp.)